Burma’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that a total of 6,189 candidates have registered to run in the November general election.

The opposition National League for Democracy tops the candidate lists with 1,151 representatives, followed by the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party with 1,134 candidates and National Unity Party with 763.

Also running in the polls are 323 independent politicians who will be competing against candidates from around 90 political parties across Burma.

Parties and candidates have until 17 August to make any cancellations or amendments to the registers, after which time – from 18 to 27 August – the UEC will scrutinise each of the nominated candidates before verifying their eligibility.

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This year’s election will be by far the largest Burma has ever seen, with double the number of candidates running than in 2010, when the USDP won by a landslide in polls that observers invariably decried as fixed. Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD did not compete in 2010, but only entered the political fray for by-elections in 2012.

The UEC has announced the upcoming elections will be held on 8 November in 1,171 constituencies across the country – 330 seats for the Lower House: 168 for the Upper House; 644 for divisional and state assemblies; and 29 for national race representatives.